skip to main content

Remodeling Home Repair Bathrooms

SOS!! Shower disaster!!

3 years ago

Two weeks ago we noticed two small cracks in our fiberglass shower pan so we stopped using it immediately. Ended up hiring a “professional” after told us he would be able to rip out the out shower and give us a brand new tiled shower for a pretty reasonable price. I said DO IT!!! I was so relieved.

UNTIL....this guy did an awesome job ripping everything out. Down to the studs. It looked great and I was excited for a clean slate. Boy was I wrong. On top of not showing up when he said he would and leaving for hours at a time and sometimes not even coming back, he left us with THIS. This monstrosity. As you can tell, this guy was no professional. I feel so stupid for putting our trust in this guy.

So my question is: it’s pretty pretty clear we’re going to have to rip EVERYTHING out and start from scratch. Am I right? The cement board he installed he just screwed directly into the studs. Is that protocol? Doesn’t there need to be some kind of support between the cement board and studs? Also, as you can tell the tiles look like they were installed by a 10 year old. Is there no salvaging anything?

I need help!! We have enlisted some family friends who we actually TRUST and who have prior experience in laying tile. But i need any advice I can get at this point. This is our ONLY shower in our house and we have been showering at the gym and I’m ready for this nightmare to be over. :(

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Carrie B
3 years ago
I'm no professional, but is there no waterproofing?
Steph
3 years ago
How did you know this guy you hired is a professional? No waterproofing here and I would hate for you to keep repeating the same mistake with having your family member diy this.
Related Discussions
Remedy for Kerdi disaster...advice needed
Q
Comments (5)
Thanks catbuilder. This is exactly what we decided to do. Little concern after removing the last row if all the top tiles will slowysink down but I tried to put some wood support underneath. Another issue is he left 2" below but didn't count the thinkness of floor tile that we will put in. So I am thinking either 1) put the last row of vertical wall tiles back and have 4"x4" floor tile butt against, or 2) lower the height of mortar bed by 7/16" (floor tile thinkness). If I do 2) the highest point of mortar bed will be 1 9/16", short of 2" that people normally do. The shower is 5x3.5' so pitch wise it seems okay to lower the mortar bed thinkness, but will that weaken the mortar bed structure? If it were you, which option is better. Thanks,
...See More
Shower door disaster
Q
Comments (14)
We aren't the best owners in a construction project. We "saw" the pony walls but we didn't really focus on the opening at all. The issue the contractor focused on was the space for the toilet, which has turned out to be 30 inches, the minimum required by code. This was mentioned to us and we said ok. The size of the shower opening we did not look at really (we did look at the size of the neoangle shower and yes focused on the elbow room etc and the reduction in size). We were really focused on issues surrounding sourcing vanities, fireplace design etc. No doubt we could have called out an issue on the framing of the pony walls before they were tiled. My "defense" if necessary is that I feel more strongly about a narrow opening when I know that it is well below code; the code issue is a wake up call. Also, you notice narrow a lot more after tile. First shower door installer commented that "turning the corner" on the pony walls is the real problem. The decision to turn the corner wasn't really discussed with us. We didn't pay attention to it......
...See More
Biggest natural disaster(s) your state faces?
Q
Comments (25)
Our natural disasters (in Wisc) 1. A few tornadoes. The destructive path tends to be narrow. 2. Wind fronts (downbursts) 3. Lightening strikes. In my county, there are 2 to 5 house strikes per year resulting in damage or fire. 4. An occasional blizzard, Happens maybe once every 5 years. 5. Tripple snowstorms. Three big snows within 8 days can be hazardeous. Happens rarely, but can overload roofs and generally slow down commerce. 6. Cold snaps. Really severe ones that go to temperatures lower than -20 F for more than one day is rough to deal with in case of equipment failure either with the auto or home heating system. Temps this cold happen maybe once in 30 years.
...See More
MASTER BATHROOM REMODELING DISASTER
Q
Comments (20)
thatsmuchbetter: Although I also suspected that it wasn't reasonably bid, at this point your $1,000 tile job theory isn't holding up. You have an entire agenda to push and you don't care if it matches up with the facts of this case or not. For the most part we have to take the information that we get here at face value. Sure there are a lot of questions about how this job could go so wrong. If the facts are as presented - then a contractor took advantage of a consumer who didn't have a lot of sophistication about managing a job like this. To Elisia Ellis: You need to understand that if things are as you presented them, the cost of the work was probably significantly out of line for what you needed to be done even if it was done right ( I don't have all the details, so I'm hedging here). The work that was done was grossly incompetent at any price. That this could have gone so badly makes me think that you need some trusted help to resolve the problem with the current contractor and repair your bathroom. This should be a family member or trusted friend who can guide you on legal action, as well as helping you to make decisions with correcting the bathroom. It's not really likely for this to happen as you described unless a contractor was taking advantage of a homeowner without the sophistication and experience to manage such a project. You don't need to be shamed or feel ashamed -- but I think recovering your money and repairing your bathroom is going to be more complex than even the original job - and it's not something that you should go at alone. Get some assistance from someone who can help you to think through this (again, a family member or trusted friend who has business skills -- not a paid person). You will probably need legal assistance and such, but before you go there, you will probably need a trusted advocate who can commit to helping you sort through this.
...See More
PRO
Dragonfly Tile & Stone Works, Inc.
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Unfortunately you did not hire a professional. And family and friends who you trust and "have prior experience in laying tile" also do not sound like professionals. Building a proper shower system with an aesthetically pleasing tile installation on top of it is to be left to the real professional tile contractors (not a jack of all trades/handyman/friend who has tiled) You need to vet them carefully. You don't want to make the same mistake twice. A professional will answer all your questions, explain the methods and materials he/she uses and advise you on proper selection of tile for your application. Be ready to adjust your expectations regarding pricing. Now you see what you got from "pretty reasonable price" work. One place to start is to search the National Tile Contractor Assn. for members in your area. Another source is the Certified Tile Education Foundation where you can further search for certified installers in your area and other information for homeowners. You want a contractor who has been installing showers for a living for some time, has a verifiable business with all the proper insurance, licensed (if required in your area), and a documented history of installation successes including photos, and referrals.
PRO
Mint tile Minneapolis
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
"Is there no salvaging anything?"

Yes, your home by starting from studs/ joists with a proven tile professional. Id not gamble w friends of friends that you trust unless they've been building showers daily for a good decade or more. Youll also likely need a pressure balanced valve and drain (plumbing) upgrade if you are in the US, that also is not a project to diy or handyman for hire.

Careful now.

if you agree w dragonfly as we do, How do you plan to vette youre next hire.?
0
Sammy
3 years ago
The cement board he installed he just screwed directly into the studs. Is that protocol?

Yes, it is.

Doesn’t there need to be some kind of support between the cement board and studs?

Nope.
0
Steph
3 years ago
Don’t you need to pull permits for job like this? Is your family friend going to do that? Why would you chance something so important with non professional. It’s like having a bad roof and just sticking buckets in the attic. This is an investment that needs protecting, like anything else.
0

Related Stories

HOUSEKEEPING How to Clean a Glass Shower Door

By Bonnie McCarthy

See which tools and methods will keep those glass shower walls and doors sparkling clean

BATHROOM DESIGN How to Choose the Best Drain for Your Shower

By By Any Design Ltd.

Don't settle for a cheap fix when you can pick a shower drain that suits your style preferences and renovation codes alike

HOMES AROUND THE WORLD Houzz Tour: Warehouse Home Goes from Disaster to Triumph

By Claire McCall

A New Zealand family beats the odds 3 times when its loft apartment is threatened with demolition after a series of earthquakes

HOME TECH 7 Ways to Charge Up and Connect After Disaster

Products and tips for communicating and keeping essential items running till the power's back on

REMODELING GUIDES Umbrella House Creates Shower of Inspiration

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

The forecast is shade, reduced cooling costs and striking visuals for houses with canopies inspired by a 1950s icon

BATHROOM DESIGN How to Build a Better Shower Curb

By By Any Design Ltd.

Work with your contractors and installers to ensure a safe, stylish curb that keeps the water where it belongs

SHOWERS Your Guide to Shower Floor Materials

Discover the pros and cons of marble, travertine, porcelain and more

BATHROOM DESIGN Light-Happy Changes Upgrade a Small Bathroom

By Becky Harris

Glass block windows, Starphire glass shower panes and bright white and blue tile make for a bright new bathroom design

MOST POPULAR 15 Remodeling ‘Uh-Oh’ Moments to Learn From

By Mitchell Parker

The road to successful design is paved with disaster stories. What’s yours?

LIFE How to Prepare for and Live With a Power Outage

By Lisa Frederick

When electricity loss puts food, water and heat in jeopardy, don't be in the dark about how to stay as safe and comfortable as possible

Sponsored

More Discussions

Self leveling basement problem

18

Window leak, musty smell?

20

Urgent Need Costa Brava Terrassa Engineered Hardwood Batch of 20'-21'

0

keystone windmill dotted back tile change middle color on your own?

6

What's the easiest cost effective way to fix these kitchen cabinets?

15